Inking attachment for job printing-presses



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-She'et 1.

W. A. & S. O. THOMPSON. INKING ATTACHMENT FOR JOB PRINTING PRESSBS.

No. 443,978. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

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2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. A. & s. 0. THOMPSON. INKING ATTACHMENT FOR JOB PRINTING PRESSES. NO. 443,978.

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. THOMPSON AND STACY O. THOMPSON, OF MANISTEE, MICHIGAN.

lNKlNG ATTACHMENT FOR JOB PRlNTlNG-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,978, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed June 24, 1890. Serial No. 356,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. THOMP- SON and STACY O. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Manistee, in the county of Manistee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inking Attachments for Job Printing-Presses; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates, generally, to inking attachments for job printing-presses of the class in which disks are employed, and particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of the parts composing the 1nkdistributing plate or disk, its attachments, and the supplemental disks; and it consists/in the peculiarities of constructionand arrangement or combination of parts hereinafter fully disclosed in the description, drawings, and claims.

Heretofore the art of printing in colors has been practiced in different ways and with varied success in results, the best result generally having been secured by the well-known method of printing only one color of a series at a-time. This method, however, requires much labor and loss of time in its employment,-as the operator is compelled to clean the inking rollers and disk after the application of each color, and also to rearrange the type-form as many times as there are colors to be printed; also, what is known in the art as chromatic attachments have been employed as a means for printing several colors simultaneously; but they are difficult to operate, soon become disarranged, and fail to fully accomplish the purposes for which they are intended.

lhe objects of our invention are, first, to overcome these difficulties with but slight change in the general construction of the printing-press proper, which is accomplished .by the improvements in the main ink-distributing plate or disk and its attachments; sec- 0nd, to provide said main min-distributing plate or disk with supplemental dlsks, by which two or more independent colors can be printed simultaneously or by one impression; third, to provide said main plate or disk with supplemental disks and other mechanism by which two or more colors can be blended and at the same time an independent color printed on each side of the blended portion, and, fourth, to so construct and arrange said main plateor disk, the supplemental disks, and the attachments that asingle color can be printed with as great facility as a blended color or as two or more separate colors. These objects are accomplished by means of the peculiarly constructed main ink-distributing plate or disk, the supplemental disks, and their attachments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which the same reference-numerals indi-- cate the same parts, and in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of an ordinary job printingpress of the class employing disks with our improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2, a top perspective view of the main plate or disk with the supplemental disks removed and placed at either side thereof, one of thelatter disks being in an inverted position and showing the gear-wheel and short journal upon its under surface; Fig. 3, a top plan view, in full lines, of the main plate or disk and the supplemental disks when in position for printing two independent colors, and in-dotted lines of the positions assumed by the supplemental disks when the colors are to be blended and a separate color is to be printed on each sidev of the blended portion; and Fig. 4:, a transverse vertical section of the invention on the IOC ' suitably secured to the press-frame t-mnmunicate with the chamber 3 and upon which rest and revolve portions of the under surfaces of the supplemental disks 6.

Extending downwardly from the center of the lower surface of the main disk 2, and formed integrally therewith, is a short tubular journal 8, which fits and revolves within the corresponding journal -boX 9, which is A short shaft 10,having the gear-wheel 11 atits lower end, extends upwardly through the tubular journal 8 of the main disk 2, and to its upper end is suitably secured the gear-wheel 12, which is arranged just above the bottom of and revolved centrally within the chamber 3 by the gear-wheel 11, which may be operated by any of the gearing commonly employed for this purpose in job printing-presses of the disk class. Also, upon the bottom of said main plate or disk 2, and extending downwardly from opposite points thereof, are provided the two short journal-boxes 13, the centers of which are coincident with the centers of the circular depressions or recesses 7 and within which are supported and revolved the short shafts or journals let of thesupplemental disks.

Through the tubular journal 8 on the under side of the main plate or disk 2, and through the shaftlO extending therethrough, are formed the holes 15 for receiving, when they are in alignment, the removable pin or bolt 16, which, when inserted therein, permits the main and supplemental disks to be revolved simultaneously together for printing the work all in one color, this being accomplished the same as if said disks formed a single or integral disk or as if said supplemental disks were normally fixed to said main disk and incapable of being revolved upon their own journals independently thereof; also, by the removal of said pin or bolt the main disk can be adjusted circnmferentially and held normally stationary in proper place for permitting the supplemental disks to be revolved independently thereof for securing a blend in colors or for printing independent colors, as may he desired.

The supplemental disks, asstated, are provided 011 theirlower or under surfaces with the gear-wheels 5. These wheels mesh with and are revolved by the gear-wheel 12 on the upper end of the shortshaft 10 when the main disk is held stationary.

The means by which the main disk can be held normally stationary after it has been adjusted circumferentially for permitting the supplemental disks to be revolved independently thereof forprinting in different colors or for securing a blend in colors consists of the curved and upwardly-extending adjustable bar 17, which is secured at its inner or lower end to the frame-work of the press and provided at its outer or upper end with a short-slotted horizontal portion 18, upon which rests the edge or rim of the main disk.

Tnroughthe slotted portion of this bar passes a thumb-screw 19, which enters a correspond ingly-screw-threaded aperture near the rim of said disk and which is used for the purpose of firmly holding the same in any position to which it may be circumferentially adjusted.

WVhen the parts of this invention have been placed in operative relation with the supplemental disks 6, arranged with a space of about one-fourth of an inch between them and it is desired to print a form in two independent colors, the main plate or disk 2 is adjusted into such position that the linear as, Fig. 3, drawn through the centers of said supplemental disks will be parallel with the axes of the inking-rollers 20 of the press. The thumbscrew 19 is then tightened, which will cause said main disk to be rigidly held in thatposition. The differently-colored inks are then applied to said supplemental disks, whentsaid rollers are passed thereover beforethe typeform is placed upon the press,-so. as to uniformly distribute the inks over theirsurfaces.

After this has been accomplished it-is evident that two separate or distinctcolors willhave been printed simultaneously. During the making of each impression the supplemental disks are revolved a short distance in opposite directions, which will cause the inksthereon to be evenly or smoothly distributed,t h eir revolutions being effected by the gear-wheels 5, meshing with the gear-wheel 12 at the upper end of the shaft 10, which is operated by the gear-wheel 11, as hereinbefore described, during the time the main disk is, held stationary.

\Vhen a blending of colors anda working. of independent colors on each side of the blend are desired, the thumb-screw 19 is loos:

en ed and the main disk turned or adjustedcircumferentially until the supplemental. disks assume the positions shown by the dotted lines o t, Fig. The main diskis then firmly secured in that position by tightening said thumb-screw, when the impressionis-takenin the usual manner. Also, it will be observed that when the main, plate ordisk i s placed and held in the position above described a line, as .2 z, drawn at right angles tothe-axes of the inking-rollers 20 and throughthecene ter of said disk willjust touch the peripheries of the supplemental disks, and consequently that when said inking-rollers are passed over said disks preparatory to the operation of printing they will cause the inks upon said disks to be com mingled or blended from their peripheries for a short distance inward.

When it is desiredto print with only one color, the positions of the disks willnot-interfere therewith in the slightest, as they may be in any position and still bepperatedwith the same effect as ordinary disks, it, -only,{being necessary to release the. thumb-screw, 19

and the slotted bar 17 fromthe main disk 2 and insert the pin 16 intothe holes 1 5;inthe journal 8 and short shaftlO, so that, all the. disks will be revolved together'or, the inde- IIO pendent revolution of the supplemental disks prevented. I

In practice it is not necessary that the main disk or plate 2 should be circular in form, as it may be square, rectangular, or of any other suitable shape and construction; also, other means than those herein disclosed may be employed for revolving these plates or disks without departing from the principle underlying our invention; also, three or more supplemental disks for printing as many colors may be used, if desired; and also, as is obvious, other devices than the upwardly-curved and adjustable bar and the thumb-screw may be employed forv holding the main plate or disk stationary while the small or supplemental disks are revolved within the same for printing different colors and for circumferentially adjusting the position of said main disk and holding the same stationary, so that said supplemental disks while blending colors shall not be exactly Opposite each other or in a line parallel with the axes of the inking-rollers.

Ve are aware that a reciprocating table provided with intermittingly-revolved disks, and that an intermittingly-revolved large disk provided with smaller disks have been used for the distribution of ink upon their faces, and we do not claim the same, as they are incapable of use for printing two or more differentcolors during one impression and for blending various colors.

Having thus fully described the construction and arrangement or combination of the several parts of our invention, its operation,

advantages, and capabilities, what we claim as new is- 1. In a printing-press, a main revoluble inkdistributing plate or disk provided with normally-stationary supplemental disks, in combination with holding means for retaining said plate ordisk stationary, and revolving devices for imparting motion to said supplemental disks, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-press, a main circumferentially adjustable and normally-stationary ink-distributing plate or disk provided with revoluble supplemental disks for printing blended colors, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press, a main normallystationary ink -distributing plate provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and with supplemental disks having gear-wheels on their under surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a printing-press, a main normallystationary ink-distributing plate or disk provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and circular depressions or recesses near its upper surface, in combination with supplemental disks having revoluble gear-wheels on their under surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a printing-press, a main normallystationary ink-distributing plate or disk provided with an elongated chamber having rounded ends and circular depressions or recesses near its upper surface, in combination with supplemental disks having revoluble gear-Wheels on their under surfaces, and means for adjusting said main plate or disk circumferentially, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a printing-press, a main normallystationary ink-distributing plate or disk having short journal-boxes on its under surface and an elongated chamber, in combination with supplemental disks having revoluble gear-wheels on their under surfaces, and also short journals mounted in said boxes, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-press, a main ink-distrib uting plate or disk provided with short journal-boxes on its under surface, with an elongated chamber, and with a central tubular depending journal, in combination with supplemental disks having short journals and gearwheels on their under surfaces, and the short vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and lower ends, substantially as described.

8. In a printing-press, a main adjustable ink-distributing plate or disk provided with short journal-boxes on its under surface, with an elongated chamber, and with a central tubular dependingjournal, in combination with supplemental disks having short journals and gear-wheels on their under surfaces, and the short vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and lower ends, substantially as described.

9. In a printing-press, a main ink-distrib uting plate or disk provided with revoluble supplemental disks and formed with a screwthreaded aperture if! its under surface and near its outer edge or rim, in combination with an adjustable bar formed with a slotted upper end, and a thumb-screw passing through said slotted end and into said screw-threaded aperture, substantially as described.

10. 1n a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with revoluble supplemental disks and a central tubular depending journal, in combination with a short vertical shaft provided with gear-Wheels at its upper and lower ends, and means for connecting and disconnecting said tubular journal and shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with revoluble supplemental disks and a central tubular depending journal, in combination with a short vertical shaft provided with gear-wheels at its upper and lower ends, and means for connecting and disconnecting said tubular journal and shaft, said means consisting of holes formed in said journal and shaft and the removable bolt or pin, substantially as described.

12. In a printing-press, a main ink-distributing plate or disk provided with an elongated chamber, with circular recesses near its upper surface, with short depending journal-boxes, and with a screw-threaded aperscrew passing through said slotted end and ture in its under surface nearits edge or rim, into said screw-threaded aperture, sul stanin combination with the supplemental disks tially as described.

having gear-Wheels and journals on their un- In testimony whereof we affix our signatures der surfaces, a central gear-wheel meshing in presence of two witnesses.

with the gear-Wheels just named, a short ver- WILLIAM A. THOMPSON. tical shaft provided with said gear-wheel and STACY O. THOMPSON; having on its lower end another gear-wheel Witnessesi p which is suitably operated, an adjustable bar HENRY SIMONs', 10 form ed with a slotted upper end, and a thumb- HENRY WVRI GHT. 

